My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

even offer some to anyone, a group of children was surrounding her and staring eagerly at the

is so pretty,

and a paper plate, preparing to cut into

Rae.” Julian stopped her and pulled some candles out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you all to some cake, what should we

head of the group, which happened to be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said, “Wish Miss Rachel

must sing the

close her eyes and

blow out

shook her head to indicate to Julian that there was no need to go to

lit the candles and had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have a healing effect on any

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

Rachel. My mommy says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a very

lowered her head to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet

of the children, clasped her hands and made a wish. After that, she blew out the candles and

say thank you!” their parents

raced off, dabbing icing on each other’s faces. Just like that, the strangers in the community suddenly seemed closer and the whole

streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled for the first time in days. Thank

Walking her back to her apartment building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your mood. You don’t need to worry about anything else. As

wanted it, anyway, so I might as well pretend it never existed for

the child, he changed the topic and told her, “Go on upstairs, then. It’s been getting colder lately,

she turned and

apartment and about to close the

door was propped open by

his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the centipede-like scar on it.

on

into the house and shut the door before surveying

“I see you’ve been getting along fine

steps back.

resentfully, he stalked toward her as he pulled off his

like unmelting icebergs as he sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want me to ruin your blissful

her, forcing her back inch

idea

pulled, she staggered after